Former rival Israel Adesanya provokes Paulo Borrachinha and appeals to the Brazilian before UFC 318

I. Adesanya (left) defeated P. Borrachinha at UFC 253. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook @ufc

Neste sábado (19), Paulo Borrachinha retorna ao octógono para enfrentar Roman Kopylov na luta co-principal do UFC 318, em Nova Orleans, nos Estados Unidos. Algoz do brasileiro em disputa de cinturão há cerca de cinco anos, Israel Adesanya comentou sobre o atual momento do brasileiro.

In a video analysis of UFC 318 published on his official YouTube channel, Adesanya took a slight swipe at Borrachinha, but more than that, he demanded that the Brazilian take his career seriously and return to being the fighter who qualified him for a title fight in the past.

See too

Patrício Pitbull aims for his first UFC victory and promises: 'I'll show that I came to be a champion'

Jon Jones sets goal for UFC return at Casa Branca, but doesn't guarantee a duel with Tom Aspinall

“Paulo Costa, where are you? I can't remember. He's still a dangerous guy. Costa, show up, man! Show up and show them. Costa has everything, but I don't know. Who is he training with? Costa needs to get serious again. He's fun to watch, but show some shit, man. Get back to where you were before you fought me. Take this more seriously. Fuck everyone, I like Costa. I don't think he's a bad guy. But he needs to show some shit, get serious again, show up to fight. Stay motivated and disciplined,” said the former champion.

Paulo Borrachinha tries to shake off his bad streak at UFC 318

Outrora considerado um dos principais prospectos do UFC, Paulo Borrachinha vive, de longe, sua pior fase na organização, com apenas uma vitória nas últimas cinco lutas. O último triunfo do brasileiro aconteceu em agosto de 2022, quando superou Luke Rockhold. De lá para cá, o mineiro fez apenas mais duas lutas, com derrotas para os ex-campeões Robert Whittaker e Sean Strickland.

Neste sábado, no UFC 319, Borrachinha tenta espantar a má fase e voltar a vencer. Para isso, terá que frear a ascensão do russo Roman Kopylov, embalado por duas vitórias seguidas e seis nas últimas sete lutas.